NEWARK, NJ — Customers of the historic Bloomfield Station on the Montclair-Boonton Line will benefit from a restored and reopened shelter—with a climate-controlled waiting area, new lighting and seating—as the result of a project approved today by the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors.

“I am pleased to have been able to secure funding toward this project that will provide a more comfortable commuting environment for Bloomfield residents,” said U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., who secured the federal funding while a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

"As a representative of this district, I have worked hard to ensure that sufficient funding levels go toward making these improvements at Bloomfield Station," said State Senator Ronald L. Rice, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

“This project will enable us to provide an enhanced commuting experience for customers of Bloomfield Station while preserving a historic asset to the Township and the State,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman Kris Kolluri.

The Board awarded a $1.3 million contract to Watertrol, Inc. of Cranford, NJ to rehabilitate the inbound shelter and restore the boarding platforms. Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the inbound shelter suffered fire damage in 1991 and was stabilized in 2004 to preserve the structure for future rehabilitation.

“These improvements will help make the commute from Bloomfield Station more comfortable, with a climate-controlled waiting area, new seating and an improved overall appearance,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles.

"NJ TRANSIT’s investment in Bloomfield Station will not only provide a safer, more comfortable commute for our Township residents,” said Bloomfield Township Mayor Raymond McCarthy. “It will restore the historic character of a building that is at the heart of our central business district.”

The project will include installation of new windows, floor tiles, lighting and seating, as well as heating and air conditioning in the waiting area. The project also calls for the repair and staining of the concrete platform and canopy, strengthening of roof supports and installation of new roofing tiles.

Serving approximately 900 customers on a typical weekday, Bloomfield Station is NJ TRANSIT’s busiest outlying station on the Montclair-Boonton Line.

Construction on the project will begin this summer, with completion expected in 2008.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 857,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.